(Image: Margaret Raines)
Is Rowntree Park being left to its volunteers?
Who is responsible for keeping Rowntree Park properly maintained? That is the question I am still waiting for an answer to.
As a park volunteer and local council tax-paying resident, I contacted City of York Council in June to raise concerns about the increasingly poor standard of maintenance at Rowntree Park. I provided photographs showing areas of long grass, grass cuttings left across the lawns, uncut areas, and nettles and brambles encroaching onto paths.
I also questioned whether Rowntree Park is receiving an appropriate level of maintenance compared with other council-managed areas.
Councillor Jane Burton responded to say she had passed my email and photographs to the head of service and asked him to look into the concerns. She also said she would let me know the response and hoped there would be an improvement in standards.
Three months later, I am still waiting. I have received no follow-up from the council and have seen no clear evidence that the concerns I raised have been properly addressed.
I understand that the council faces financial pressures. I also understand the enormous value of the people who give their time to help care for Rowntree Park.
But volunteers cannot be expected to fill the gap when basic maintenance is not being carried out to an acceptable standard.
Rowntree Park is a much-loved community asset and a Green Flag park. Surely residents should be able to expect it to be properly maintained.
I have now gone back to the councillors asking for straightforward answers: What action was taken? What are the current arrangements for maintaining the park? And, most importantly, what is going to be done to ensure the standard improves?
I have also asked a councillor to visit the park and see its condition first-hand.
I am not asking for special treatment for Rowntree Park. I am asking for accountability and for a basic level of maintenance that residents can reasonably expect from their council.
Margaret RainesPark volunteer and local residentRecommended reads:
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